Stuccoing and plastering machine



Mamh 1931- E. MORELLI 1,797,438

STUCCOING AND PLASTERING MACHINE Filed Dec. 22, 1928 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 IN VEN TOR fNR/Co MORELL I.

ATTORNEY March 24, 1931. E. MORE|.L|

STUGCOING AND PLASTERING MACHINE Filed Dec 22 1928 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 FIG I INVENTOR. fwklco lfOKEl-Ll.

ATTORNEY.

M arch 24, 1931 E. MORELLI STUCCOING AND PLASTERING MACHINE Filed Dec/22, 1928 .4 Sheets-Sheet 4 I NVEN TOR.

ENRICQ MORELLL.

A TTORNE Y.

Patented Mar. 24, 1931 UNETED STATES PATET OFFICE ENRICO MORELLI, F CINCINNATI, OHIO STUGCOING AND PLASTERING MACHINE Application filed December 22, 1928. Serial No. 327,842.

The invention relates to means adapted to Slidably mounted on the supports 3 is the regulate the distance the carriage of said carriage 11. The frame 12 of the carriage device may travel vertically. comprises the spaced apart sides 13 and 14 The objects of the invention are to proeach having the spaced apart rectangular c vide simple, efiicient, and practical means holes 15 and 16 therein slidably receiving whereby said plastering machine may be the supports 3. The sides 13 and 14 are quickly and conveniently adjusted dependent maintained in fixed relation with respect to upon the height of the walls, or other vertieach other as by the spaced apart and paralcal surface, to which plastic material is to be lel horizontal struts 17, 18 and 19, extend It applied. ing intermediate the sides 13 and 14 and 5c The invention consists in the combination integral therewith. of the parts, in the detail of the construc- Intermediate the holes in the side 13 of tion, and in the arrangement of the elements, the frame 12 is the integral hub 20 slidably as claimed. receiving the lower vertical screw 21 hav- 15 In the drawings: ing its lower end 22 journaled in a suitable Fig. 1 is side elevation of the invention, bearing in the base plate 4. Intermediate with parts broken away; the holes 16 in the side 14- of the frame 12 F 2 is a section taken on a line correis the integral internal threaded hub 23 sponding to 22 in Fig. 1; t ireaded to the upper vertical screw 2e hav 3 is a vertical section taken on a line ing its lower end 25 journaled in a suitable 7 corresponding to 33 in Fig. 2; bearing in the base plate 4:.

Fig. at is a vertical section taken on a line he usual electric motor 26 is mounted corresponding to 44 in Fig. 2; upon the base plate l, and is operated by ig. 5 is a section taken on a line corre suitable outside source of electric source of sponding to 5-5 in Fig.1; supply. On the driving shaft 27 of the F i 6 is a section taken on a line corremotor 26 is suitably fixed the sprocket 28. sponding to 66 in Fig. 1; For the purpose of providing means F ig. 7 is a plan view of the invention; whereby the carriage 11 may be operated at Fig. 8 is a section taken on a line correvariable speeds upwardly and at one speed sponding to 88 in Fig. 1; downwardly, the usual transmission box 29 Fig. 9 is a section taken on a line corremounted upon a base integral with the top sponding to 99 in Fig. 8; of the motor 26 has on its input shaft 30 the Fig. 10 is a. section taken on a line corregear 31 meshing with the gear 32 secured to sponding to 101O in 5. the horizontal shaft 33 rotatably mounted in 33 Fig. 11 is a section taken on a line corre suitable bearings in the bosses 34: integral sponding to 11-11 in Fig. 7. with the motor 26.

Fig. 12 is a section taken on a line come The transmission is usual construction sponding to 1212 in Fig. 5. adapted to effect two different speeds of the tion. I provide the plastering machine 1 havof the output shaft 35 in a reverse direction.

ing the frame 2 comprising the spaced apart Fixed to the end 36 of the shaft 33 is the rectangular vertical supports 3, the base sprocket 37 rotated by the belt chain 38 operplate 4, the top plate 5 and the telescopic atively connected with the sprocket 28 upper tubes or supports 6 slidably mounted whereby the output shaft 35 is adapted to be in the holes 7 in the upper ends 8 of the lower rotated by the motor 26 and the rotatable tubes or supports 3. The lower ends 9 and speed and the direction of its rotation is conthe upper ends 10 of the supports 3 are retrolled by manual operation of the usual ceivedon the lugs in the base plate 4 and gear shift lever 39.

the top plate 5 respectively and secured The shaft 35 has suitably secured to its thereto in any suitable manner. end the sprocket 40 having the belt chain 41 1% In the preferred construction of the invenoutput shaft 35 in one direction and one speed meshing therewith. The chain 41 is operatively meshed with the sprocket d2 fixed to the end 1-3 of the horizontal shaft 4 1 rotatably mounted in the bearings 45 in the upwardly extending bosses l6 integral with the base plate 4.

Secured to the end of the shaft is the bevel gear 48 meshing with the bevel gear l9 secured to the end 50 of the horizontal shaft 51 rotatably mounted in the upwardly extending bosses integral with the base plate l. Secured to the other end 53 of the shaft- 51 is the bevel gear 5 lmeshing with the bevel gear 55 suitably fixed to the lower end of the screw 21.

For the purpose of accomplishing a low gear ratio from the transmission output shaft 30 to mechanism adapted to operate the mechanism for elevating and lowering the carriage 11. the relatively small spur gear 56 is fixed to the outer end of the shaft 33 and is meshed with the relatively large gear 57 rotatably mounted upon the shaft 58 suitably fixed in the upwardly extending boss 59 integral with the base plate 4. Integrally formed with the hub 60 on the outer side of the gear 57 is the relatively small gear 61 meshing with the relatively large gear 62 rotatably mounted upon the end of the shaft 33. Integrally formed with the hub 63 of the gear 62 is a sprocket 64 operatively connected with the sprocket 65 by the belt chain 66.

The idler procket 67, mounted on the shaft 68 fixed to the boss 69 integral with the base plate l meshes with the chain 66 to maintain the chain in operative position.

The sprocket 70 is fixed to the shaft 71 rotatably mounted in the upwardly extending bosses 72 integral with the base plate l. Rotatably mounted in the spaced apart upwardly extended bosses 73 is the shaft 74 havi suitably fixed thereto the sprocket 75 in xment with the sprocket 70. The belt am 7 6 is geared to the sprockets 70 and 75 whereby rotation of the shaft 71 imparts rotatable movement to the shaft 74. A ixed to the end of the shaft 7 1 is a beveled g ar 77 meshing with the beveled gear 78,

uxed to the lower end of the screw 24:, whereby rotatable novement is imparted to the screw tirough the gearing mechanism just explained, by rotation of the shaft 33 operated by the output shaft 30 of the transmission 29 whereby the rotatable speed of the screw 2% may be varied by operation of the gear shift handle 39 of the transmission.

Adjacent the lower screws 21 and 2 1 are the vertical hollow tubes or supports 79 and 30 having their lower ends suitably fixed in the bushings 80 in the base plate 1. Integral with the upper ends of the tubes 79 and 80 are the internally threaded nuts 81 and 81. The nuts 81 and 81 are threaded to the lifting screws 32 and .83, respectively, having their upper ends 8 1 and 84: fitted in suit-able bearings in the top plate 5. Fixed upon' the upper ends of the screws 82 and 83 are the collars 85 which engage the lower side 86 of the top plate 5, when the screws travel upwardly. will be fully explained herein after.

Fixed to the upper end 87 of the screw 83 is the gear 88 having integral with its upper side the sprocket gear 89 which is operatively connected with the sprocket gear 90, fixed to the upper end of the screws 82, as by the chain 91.

Fixed in the central portion of the top plate 5 is the vertical pin 92 on which is mounted the idler sprocket gear 93 which meshes with the chain 91 and maintains the chain ta t,

The s rews 21 and 24: are fitted with the oppositely disposed key ways 9e and 95 which cut the full length of the screws. Slid- .b v mounted in the key ways 95 are the keys which are secured to the inner surfaces 97 of the hollow upper screws 98 an d 99, having in their upper ends the plugs mountsuitable bearingin the top plate 5. In-

ire top plate and the upper ends W are the bushings 101. ation is imparted to the upper screws 98 and 99 through the keys 96 which are received the key v. aye 95 in the screws 21 and 24s.

Keved to the end 102 of the plug 100 is the 103. dounted in the top plate 5 is e pin 101tonv which is pivotally mounted the hub 105 integral. with the arm 106 which has in its hub 107 the pin 108 on which 'rtatab y mounted the 6 are fixed to the lugs 11% integral with the t and have their lower ends SllClop plate 5 15 integral with the base plate 4;.

o the lugs 116 integral with the top brace rods 117 which extend sufficientdistance to clear the mecha. ism on the rear of the carriage frame and then extend downwardly. The lower ends of the rods 117 are slidably received in the vertical tubes 113 which have their lower enos fired in the base plate 4. Slidably mounted upon the tu es 118 is the platform -s 3 which have lower ends received in rearwe dly a ternally threa 119 which is held in position by the screw threaded in the tubes 118.

To raise and lower the telescopic supports 6 rotation of the screw 99 is imparted to the screws 82 and 83 through the gearing mechanism previously explained, whereby the screws 82 and 83 are caused to travel upwardly or downwardly upon the threads in the nuts 81 and 81 integral with the vertical tube 80. After the supports of the frame 2 have reached the desired height of the plastering surface, the idler gear 109 is disengaged from the 88 and 103, as shown by dotted lines in Fig. 7.

The carriage frame 12 has the internally threaded hub 23, integral with side 14, which is threaded to engage the threads on the tubular screw 99. lVhen the carriage is below the scew 99 the hub 23 is locked to the inded plug 121 by means of the pivotally mounted fingers 122 and 122 which are received in the vertical slots 123 and 123 in the outer side of the plug 121, as shown in Fig. 3. l

The hubs 124 and 124, of the fingers 122 nd 122, are pivotally mounted upon the pins 2' and 125, which are received in the bosses 2 and 126 integral with the outer side of hub 23. integral with the upper ends of the fingers 122 and 122 are the bosses 127 and 127 which receive the ends of the springs 128 and 128 which have their opposite ends received upon the bosses 129 and 129 integral with the outer surface of the hub 23.

Integral with the upper end of the plug 121 is the circumferential shoulder 130. The externally threaded circumferential plug 131 is slidably keyed to the screw 24 by the key 32 which is received in the key way 94 of the screw The plug is maintained in proper position on the screw 24 by the upper end of the shoulder 130.

When plaster is to be applied to the wall surface, the carriage 11 is lowered to the lowest position on the frame 2. Rotatable movement is applied to the screw 24, through the mechanism previously described, which causes the plug 121 to lift the carriage in an upward direction, as the fingers 122 and 122 lock the plug 121 to the hub 23 of the carriage frame. The carriage is transported in an upward direction by the screw 24 until the plug 131 contacts the lower end of the screw 99 at which point the gear 134, which is slidably .reyed to the plug 131, continues upwardly on the screw 99. The hub 23 engages thethreads on the plug 131 and travels upwardly until the threads of the hub 23 engage the threads on the screw 99, whereby the carriage is carried upwardly to the uppermost position on the frame, adjacent the top plate 5, by rotation of the screw 99, which is rotated by the screwv 24 thr ugh. the key 96, previously explained.

be plastered,

When the hub 23v engages the upper screw 7 99 it travels upwardly and the fingers 122 and-l22 slide out of the slots 123 of the plug 121, whereby the plug remains in stationary position on the screw 24.

After the carriage has traveled to the desired point on the frame 2, the direction of rotation of the screws 24 and 99 is reversed by shifting the gear shift lever 39, thereby changing the gear reduction in the transmission box 29.

1V hen rotation of the screw 99 is reversed the hub 23 moves downwardly upon the'screw 99. V hen the hub 23 reaches the lower end of the screw 99 the fingers 122 and 122 engage the slots 123 in the plug 121, whereby the carriage continues downwardly upon the screw 24, as by the plug 121 being locked with the hub 23 of the carriage frame by the fingers 122 and 122. The springs 129 and- 129, being under upper ends of the fingers outwardly whereby the lower ends of the fingers are forced inwardly in the slots 123 of the plug 121.

The gear 134 follows the hub 23 and engages the plug 131 which is keyed to the screw 24, whereby rotatable movement is imparted. to the gear 134.

The gear 135 is slidably keyed to the screw 98 by the key 136 being received in the key way 137. V5 hen the hub 20. of the carriage travels downwardly on thescrew 98 the lower end 138 of the hub 20 engages tie shoulder 139 on the bushing 140, which is keyed to the screw 21 by the key 141. The gear 135 follows the hub 20 in its downward travel and the key 136 is received in the key way 142m the outer face of the bushing 140, whereby rotation of the screw .21 is imparted to the gear 135. I

For the purpose of providing convenient means for manually positioning a plastering device adjacent a vertical surface of wall to the ring 144, integral with the lower surface of the base plate 4, is movably received in the circular groove 145 in the platform 146 having the castors 147 suitably mounted in its lower surface. For the purpose of maintaining the ring 144 in spaced apart relation with the walls 148 of the groove 145, the downwardly extending boss 149, integral with the lower surface of the base plate 4, is received in the centrally disposed recess 150 of the platform 146.

When the plastering device is properly pocompression, forces the sitioned. with respect to the walled surface to to'gain access conveniently to the manually operative lever 111 for the purpose of en aging and disengaging the gear 109 with the gears 88 and 103.

As explained in my co-pending applica tions, Serial Nos. 306,487 and 321,378 the arms 153 extend inwardly from the sides 13 and 141 of the carriage. The plaster or other plastic material hopper 151 is secured to the arms.

The front roller 155 is mounted upon the shaft 156 having its ends rotatably mounted in bearings in the sides 13 and 1a of the carriage frame. The rear roller 157 is mounted upon the shaft 158 having its ends rotatably mounted bearings in arms 159 of the carriage frame 12. The belts 160, mounted upon the rollers 155 and 157 convey the plaster from the centrally disposed circumferential. groove 95 therein in which is mounted the hopper 154 outwardly of the frame 2.

Keyed to the screw 98 is the beveled gear 135 meshing with the bevel gear 161 fixed to the end of the horizontal shaft 162 rotatably mounted in bearings in the webs integral with the struts 17 and 18. To the end of the shaft 162 is fixed the sprocket 163 having meshed therewith a belt chain not shownlwhich is meshed with a sprocket mounted upon the rear shaft 158, whereby rotation of the output shaft of the transmission is adapted through the mechanism previously explained. to impart rotatable movement to the screw 21 which in turn imparts rotatable movement to the rear roller 157, through the mechanism just previously explained.

The plaster dropped from the front roller 155 is pressed upon the wall by the pressing mechanism 164, fully explained in my copending application Serial No. 306,487.

The mechanism 165, for smoothing the plaster, also is fully explained in the above mentioned co-pending applications.

An advantage of the invent-ion is that the height of the frame of the plastering machine may be adjusted to permit the carriage to travel from the floor to the ceiling irrespective of the height of said ceiling.

Furthermore, the machine may be adjusted with the top plate 5 adjacent the upper ends of the tubular supports 3, when a room having a low ceiling is being plastered whereby, since the supports 6 are slidably received in the supports 3, the machine in its reduced size is no more bulky nor difficult to operate than if the machine were made especially for the purpose of plasterin rooms having low ceilingsl Various slight changes might be made in the general form and arrangement of parts described without departing; from my invention, and hence I do not limit myself to the precise details set forth, but consider myself at liberty to make changes when such changes and alterations fall within the spirit and scope of the appended and final claims.

lVhat I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is 1. In a plastering device, a frame adapted to be positioned adjacent a surface and comprising a plurality of spaced apart lower tubes having their ends fixed in said base, a plurality of spaced apart upper tubes slidably mounted in said first mentioned tubes, a top plate, the upper ends of said upper tubes being fixed in said top plate, a carriage slidable on said upper and lower tubes, means for elevating and lowering said carriage on said frame comprising a lower vertical screw, an upper vertical screw having its upper end rotatably connected with said top plate, the upper end of said lower screw being slidably received in said upper screw and keyed thereto, means to rotate said lower screw, means fixed to said carriage and operatively connected with said upper and lower screws whereby rotation of said lower screw causes said last mentioned means to travel upwardly and downwardly of said upper and lower screws, means to convey plaster from said carriage outwardly of said frame, means to spread said plaster on said surface, means to adjust the height of said top plate from said base comprising a lifting screw having its upper end connected with said top plate, means operatively connecting said upper screw with said lifting screw whereby rotatable movement is imparted to said lifting screw, a vertical support having its lower end fixed to said base, an internally threaded nut integral with the upper end of said support, the lower end of said lifting screw being threaded to said nut, and manually operative means to disconnect operative connection of said upper screw with said lifting screw.

2. In a plastering device, a vertical frame adapted to be positioned adjacent a vertical surface and comprising a base, a plurality of spaced apart lower vertical tubes hav ing their lower ends fixed in said base, a plurality of spaced apart upper tubes having their lower ends slidably mounted in said lower tubes, a top plate, the upper ends of said upper tubes being fixed in said top plate, a carriage vertically slidable on said upper and lower tubes, means for elevating and lowering said carriage comprising a motor on said base, a lower vertical screw having its lower end rotatably mounted in said base, an upper vertical screw having its upper end rotatably connected with said top plate, the upper end of said lower screw being slidably received. in said upper screw and keyed thereto, means operatively connected with said motor and said lower screw whereby said lower screw and said upper screws are rotated, and means fixed to said carriage and operatively connected with said upper and lower screws whereby rotation of said lower screw causes said last mentioned means to travel upwardly and downwardly of said upper and lower screws, a supply hopper mounted on said carriage frame, means operated by said motor adapted to convey plaster from said hopper outwardly of said frame, means to spread said plaster onto said vertical surface, means to adjust the height of said top plate from said base, to conform with the height of said vertical surface, comprising a vertical lifting screw having its upper end rotatably mounted in said top plate, manual ly operative means to operatively connect said upper screw with said lifting screw whereby rotatable movement is imparted to said lifting screw, a tubular vertical support having its lower end fixed in said base, and an internally threaded nut integral with the upper end of said tubular support, the lower end of said lifting screw being threaded to said nut.

3. In a plastering device, a vertical frame adapted to be positioned adjacent a vertical surface and comprising a base, a plurality of spaced apart lower vertical tubes having their lower ends fixed in said base, a plurality of spaced apart upper tubes having their lower ends slidably mounted in said lower tubes, a top plate, the upper ends of said upper tubes being fixed in said top plate, a carriage vertically slidable on said upper and lower tubes, means for elevating and lowering said carriage comprising a motor on said base, a lower Vertical screw having its lower end rotat ably mounted in said base, an upper vertical screw having its upper end rotatably connected with said top plate, the upper end of said lower screw being slidably received in said upper screw and keyed thereto, means operatively connected with said motor and said lower screw whereby said lower screw and said upper screw are rotated, and means fixed to said carriage and operatively connected with said upper and lower screws whereby rotation of said lower screw causes said last mentioned means to travel upwardly and downwardly of said upper and lower screws, means operated by said motor adapted to convey plaster from said carriage outwardly of said frame, means to spread said plaster on said vertical surface, means to adjust the height of said top plate from said base comprising a lifting screw having its upper end connected with said top plate, means operatively connecting said upper screw and said lifting screw whereby rotatable movement is imparted to said lifting screw, a vertical support having its lower end fixed to said base, an internally threaded nut integral with the upper end of said tubular support, the lower end of said lifting screw being threaded to said nut, and manually operative means to disconnect operative connection of said upper screw withsaid'lifting screw.

4. In a plastering device, a frame adapted to be positioned adjacent a vertical surface and comprising a base, a plurality of spaced apart lower tubes having their lower ends lined in said base, a plurality of spaced apart upper tubes slidably mounted in said lower tubes, a carriage vertically slidable on said upper and lower tubes, means for elevating and lowering said carriage comprising a lower vertical screw means to rotate said screw, an upper vertical screw, the upper end of said lower screw being slidably received in said upper screw and keyed thereto, means connected with said carriage and operatively connected with said upper and lower screw whereby rotation of said screws causes said last mentioned means to travel upwardly and downwardly of said frame, means operated to convey plaster outwardly of said frame, means to spread said plaster on said vertical surface, and means to adjust the height of said frame comprising a lifting screw having its upper end connected with said upper tubes, means operatively connecting said upper screw with said lifting screw whereby rotatable movement is imparted to said lifting screw.

5. In a plastering device, to be positioned adjacent a and comprising a base, a plurality of spaced apart lower tubes having their lower ends fixed in said base, a plurality of spaced apart upper tubes slidably mounted in said lower tubes, a carriage vertically slidable on said upper and lower tubes, means for elevating and lowering said carriage comprising a lower Vertical screw means to rotate said screw, an upper vertical screw, the upper end of said lower screw being slidably received in said upper screw and keyed thereto, means connected with said carriage and operatively connected with said upper and lower screws whereby rotation of said screws causes said last mentioned means to travel upwardly and downwardly of said frame, means operated to convey plaster outwardly of said frame, means to spread said plaster on said vertical surface, and "means to adjust the height of said frame.

6. In a plastering device, a frame, comprising a plurality of spaced apart lower supports, a plurality of spaced apart upper supports slidable on said upper supports, a carriage vertically slidable on said frame, said carriage and said frame being adaptedto be positioned adjacent a vertical surface, means to convey plaster from said carriage outwardly of said frame, means forelevating and lowering said carriage on said frame, a vertical lifting screw having operative connection with said upper supports whereby rotation of said lifting screw imparts ver a frame adapted vert cal surface tical movement to said upper support, and means to rotate said lifting screw.

7. lln a device of the character described, a vertical frame, a plurality of spaced apart lower vertical tubes, a plurality of spaced apart upper tubes having their lower ends slidable in said upper tubes, a top plate fixed to the upper ends of said upper tubes, a carriage vertically slidable on said frame, means to adjust said carriage to operating position adjacent a vertical surface, means to convey plaster from said carriage outwardly of said frame, means for elevating and lowering said on said first mentioned frame, 001 prisin a lower vertical screw, an upper tubular screw, the upper end of said lower screw oein slidably received in said upper screw an d hereto, means to rotate said screws, and means fixed to said carriage threaded to said screws, a gear connected with the upper end of said upper screw, a vertical lifting screw having its upper end rotatably mounted in said top pla e, a gear fixed to said lifting sore v, a tubular vertical support and an internal y threaded nut integral with the upper end of said tubular support, the lower end of being threaded to said nut whereby ro tatable movement of said lifting screw imparts vertical movement to said top plate and manually operative means to operatively connect said gears.

8. In a device of the character described, a vertical frame consisting of a base, a plurality of spaced apart lower vertical tubes having their lower ends fixed to said base, a plurality of spaced apart upper tubes with their lower ends slidable in said upper tubes, a top plate fixed to the upper ends of said upper tubes, a carriage Vertically slidable on said vertical frame, means to adjust said carriage to operating position adjacent a vertical surface, means for retaining on said first mentioned frame a motor, means operated by said motor adapted to convey plaster from said carriage outwardly of said frame, means for elevating and lowering said carriage on said frame, said last mentioned means comprising a lower vertical screw having its lower end rotatably mounted in said base, means connected with said 1110- tor to rotate said lower screw, an upper tubular screw, the upper end of said lower screw being slidably received in said upper screw and keyed thereto, and means connected with said carria e and said upper and lower screws whereby rotation of said screws impart vertical movement to said carriage, a plugfixed in the upper end of said upper screw, said plug rotatably mounted in said upper plate and having its upper end projecting through said top plate, a gear fixed to the upper end ofsaid plug, a vertical lifting screw having its upper end rotatably mounted in said top plate, a gear fixed to said said lifting screw lifting screw, manually operative means to disconnect and operatively connect said gears, a tubular vertical support having its lower end fixed in said base, an internally threaded nut integral with the upper end of said tubular support, the lower end of said lifting screw being threaded to said nut whereby rotatable movement of said lower screw imparts rotatable movement to said lifting screw, means fixed to said lifting screw adapted to force said top plate upwardly when said lifting screw moves up- Wardly.

9. In a device of the character described, a vertical frame adapted to be positioned adjacent a vertical surface and comprising a base, plurality of spaced apartlower vertical tubes having their lower ends fixed in said base, a plurality of spaced apart upper tubes slidably mounted in said lower tubes, a top plate, the upper ends of said upper tubes being fixed in said top plate, a carriage vertically slidable on said upper and lower tubes, means for elevating and lowering said carriage comprising a motor on said base, a lower vertical screw having its lower end rotatably mounted in said base, an upper vertical screw having its upper end rotatably connected with said top plate, the upper end of said lower screw being slidably received in said upper screw and keyed thereto, means operatively connected with said motor and said lower screw whereby said lower screw and said upper screw are rotated, and means fixed to said carriage and operatively connected with said upper and lower screws whereby rotation of said lower screw causes said last mentioned means to travel upwardly and downwardly of said upper and lower screws, a supply hopper mounted on said carriage frame, means operated by said lower screw adapted to convey plaster from said hopper outwardly of said frame, means to spread said plaster onto said vertical surface, means to adjust the height of said top plate from said base comprising a vertical lifting screw having its upper end rotatably mounted in said top plate, mechanism connected with said upper screw to impart rotatable movement to said lifting screw, manually operative means to disconnect and operatively connect said mechanism with said lifting screw, a tubular vertical support having its lower end fixed to said base, and an integrally threaded nut integral with the upper end of said tubular support, the lower end of said lifting screw being threaded to said nut.

10. In a device of the character described, a vertical frame consisting of a base, a plurality of spaced apart lower vertical tubes having their lower ends fixed to said base, a plurality of spaced apart upper tubes having their lower ends slidable in said upper tubes, a top plate fixed to the upper ends of said upper tubes, a carriage vertically slidable on said frame, means to adjust said carriage frame to operating position adjacent a vertical surface, means for retaining on said frame a motor, means operatively connected with said motor to operate said carriage frame, a supply hopper mounted on said carriage frame, means operated by said motor adapted to convey plaster from said hopper outwardly of said frame, means for elevating and lowering said carriage on said first mentioned frame comprising a lower vertical screw having its lower end rotatably mounted in said base, means operatively connecting said motor with said lower screw, an upper tubular screw, the upper end of said lower screw being slidably received in said upper screw and keyed thereto, a plug fixed in the upper end of said upper screw, said plug rotatably mounted in said top plate and having its upper end projecting through said top plate, a gear fixed to the upper end of said plug, a vertical lifting screw having its upper end rotatably mounted in said top plate, a gear fixed to said lifting screw, atubular vertical support having its lower end fixed in said base. an internally threaded nut integral with the upper end of said tubular support, the lower end of said lifting screw being threaded to said nut whereby rotatable movement of said lifting screw imparts vertical movement to said top plate and manually operative means to connect and disconnect said gears.

ENRICO MORELLI. 

